John Venzon (right) had a laugh at Wednesday's meeting with fellow MI-Connection board member Ken Essex (left). That's Mooresville Commissioner Mac Herring in back. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The MI-Connection Communications System board of directors on Wednesday night elected John Venzon of Davidson as its new chair, replacing John Kasberger of Mooresville, who is stepping down from the board. The vote came in a special meeting at River Run Country Club in Davidson that also seated new board members. Read the full story

MOORESVILLE – Slowdowns and brief interruptions hit users of MI-Connection Communications System’s internet service Tuesday and Wednesday after new equipment didn’t work as planned.

Alan Hall, general manager of the system owned by Davidson and Mooresville, said the troubles are related to new equipment installed late Monday. Read the full story

The Davidson Town Board on Tuesday took the first step toward a charter change that would lengthen mayoral and commissioner terms from 2 to 4 years and stagger seats so not all commissioners are elected at once. The board also approved the nomination of two new directors to the MI-Connection Communications System board. Read the full story

New members of the MI-Connection Communications System board of directors will officially take up their posts and the board will elect a new chair at a special meeting Wednesday, April 13, in Davidson. Read the full story

John Kasberger

Updated 9:38 p.m.
The chair of the MI-Connection Communications System says he plans to step down May 1, and one other board member is leaving as well. The towns of Davidson and Mooresville, which own the Lake Norman area system, are appointing two people to take their places.
Read the full story

Updated Tuesday, 3:28 p.m.
A bill that would limit the ability of cities and towns to go into the cable and telecommunications business passed the N.C. House of Representatives Monday night, and now heads to the Senate. The bill exempts existing municipal systems, including MI-Connection Communications System owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville, but restricts the systems’ boundaries. Read the full story

This fence on Concord Road was the subject of debate in 2008. See a gallery of fences in Davidson below. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Also on the agenda: A new tax on businesses, discussion of drive-throughs

What should fences in Davidson look like? The Davidson Town Board on Tuesday will hold a public hearing and later vote on proposed amendments to town rules that would “strongly discourage” front-yard fences, and clarify standards for homeowners who choose to erect them.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board will resume a public hearing begun last month on proposed zoning changes that could make it easier to develop a corporate/industrial park at the former Davidson East site, off N.C. 73 east of town. (See “Public hearing resumes Tues. on N.C. 73 planning rules”.) And it will discuss the town’s longstanding rules prohibiting drive-throughs.

The meeting also will include several items related to MI-Connection, the cable and internet system Davidson owns along with the Town of Mooresville.  And the board will adopt a new $40 annual “business license” fee. Read the full story

Letter responding to state officials’ concerns will include projections of town subsidies for at least two more years; treasurer calls 2011 ‘high water mark.’

Updated Thursday, March 3, 2011, 5:16 p.m.
Directors of the MI-Connection Communications System on Wednesday approved hiring a consultant to oversee the system’s transition from its third-party manager to a new company managed by the board. Meanwhile, in a telephone meeting, the board also discussed a draft letter to be sent later this week to the state Local Government Commission in response to the LGC’s concerns over the system’s finances. Read the full story